Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 08, 2020

LOT 374

ROLEX, REF. 5514, SUBMARINER, COMEX, STEEL

CHF 100,000 - 150,000

HKD 800,000 - 1,200,000 / USD 100,000 - 150,000

Sold: CHF 187,500

A very fine and extremely rare, self-winding, stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with helium escape valve made for Comex.


Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-02

Very good

HANDS Service hands

Brand Rolex

Model Submariner

Reference 5514/5513

Year Circa 1976

Case No. 4155857/ No. 741

Bracelet Stainless steel Rolex bracelet (93150/580), approx. overall length 165 mm

Caliber 1520

Dimensions 39 mm

Signature Dial, Case and Movement

Notes

The Ref. 5514 was a COMEX-specific watch, which was never available to the general public. Due to the extreme conditions in which the COMEX divers operated, every six months the watches were sent back to Rolex for an overhaul. These watches were not just meticulously overhauled but in many cases upgraded each time the watch went back to Rolex. It has been reported by former COMEX divers that some of the earlier Ref. 5514 watches did not have the COMEX logo on the dial and that when these watches were sent to Rolex for service, the dials were replaced
by Rolex, on request, with the later gloss tritium or luminova dials, some bearing the COMEX logo making these versions even rarer.